Runnymede and Weybridge is a constituency in Surrey represented in the House of Commons of the UK Parliament since 2019 by Ben Spencer, a Conservative.

The constituency was created for the 1997 general election and represented from then until 2019 by Philip Hammond, who served as Foreign Secretary from 2014 to 2016 and Chancellor of the Exchequer from 2016 to 2019. Hammond sat as a Conservative before becoming an Independent backbencher for the last two months of his final term.

Constituency profile

Runnymede and Weybridge is a constituency in Surrey in South East England. It is named after the Borough of Runnymede (and hence ultimately after a local water-meadow) and the town of Weybridge. Other settlements include the towns of Egham, Chertsey and Addlestone and the villages of Egham Hythe, Ottershaw, New Haw, Woodham, Cobham and Oxshott.

This constituency covers suburban towns and villages that form part of London's commuter belt, located around south-west of the centre of the capital. This area is highly affluent, containing numerous golf courses and some of the country's most expensive properties, particularly in neighbourhoods like St George's Hill. The constituency's average house price is more than double the UK average. Chertsey is one of the country's oldest market towns, and the constituency also contains Thorpe Park, one of the UK's most visited theme parks.

Residents of Runnymede and Weybridge have a similar age profile to the rest of the country, albeit with an above-average proportion of middle-aged adults. They have high levels of income and homeownership and the child poverty rate is less than half the UK-wide rate. Residents are generally well-educated and a high proportion work in the business administration, science and arts sectors. The percentage claiming unemployment benefits is low. White people made up 85% of the population at the 2021 census.

Most of the constituency is represented by Conservatives at the local council level, with some Liberal Democrats elected in Weybridge and some Reform UK councillors elected in Addlestone. An estimated 51% of voters in Runnymede and Weybridge supported leaving the European Union in the 2016 referendum, similar to the UK-wide figure of 52%.

Boundaries

Current Due to the 2023 periodic review shaping elections, from 2024, the ward components are (as they existed on 1 December 2020): The Borough of Elmbridge: wards of: Cobham & Downside; Oxshott & Stoke D'Abernon; Weybridge Riverside; Weybridge St. George's Hill. In East Surrey, from April 2027. The Borough of Runnymede most wards: Addlestone North; Addlestone South; Chertsey Riverside; Chertsey St. Ann's; Egham Hythe; Egham Town; Longcross, Lyne and Chertsey South; New Haw; Ottershaw; Thorpe; Woodham and Rowtown In West Surrey, from April 2027.

The mainly low-density places of Englefield Green and Virginia Water abutting Windsor Great Park were transferred to the Berkshire seat of Windsor. To compensate this and accurately a higher-than-UK-average rise in housing and population, two similar southern wards that were in Esher and Walton listed foremost were gained as the similar "village" (as a standard ward) of Oatlands went across in the opposite way. Components remain all in north Surrey and have the same core towns.

1997–2024 In the Borough of Elmbridge: Oatlands and Burwood Park; Weybridge Riverside; Weybridge St George's Hill2010 post-revision map non-metropolitan areas and unitary authorities of England The Borough of Runnymede: all wards (Addlestone North; Addlestone South; Chertsey Riverside; Chertsey St Ann's; Egham Hythe; Egham Town; Englefield Green East; Englefield Green West; Longcross, Lyne & Chertsey South; New Haw; Ottershaw; Thorpe; Virginia Water; Woodham & Rowtown )

History The constituency was created in 1997 from parts of the former constituencies of Chertsey and Walton and North West Surrey.

From its creation until 2019, it was represented by Philip Hammond, of the Conservative Party, who served as a Cabinet Minister throughout the Cameron–Clegg coalition before holding in succession two of the Great Offices of State: Foreign Secretary from 2014 to 2016, and Chancellor of the Exchequer from 2016 to 2019.

Runnymede and Weybridge is a Conservative safe seat based on both length of tenure and size of majorities – the narrowest margin of victory was in the 2024 general election, of 15.8% of the vote.

Members of Parliament

Chertsey and Walton prior to 1997

ElectionMemberParty 1997 Philip Hammond ConservativeSeptember 2019Independent2019Ben SpencerConservative

Elections

Elections in the 2020s

Elections in the 2010s

2019 notional result Party Vote % Conservative 28,028 53.2 Liberal Democrats 11,956 22.7 Labour 9,347 17.7 Others 1,923 3.7 Green 1,415 2.7Turnout52,66971.4Electorate73,778

Elections in the 2000s

Result declared at 02:19

Result declared at 03:21

Elections in the 1990s

Result declared at 03:31

See also List of parliamentary constituencies in Surrey List of parliamentary constituencies in the South East England (region)

Notes

References

Sources Election result, 2015 (BBC) Election result, 2010 (BBC) Election result, 2005 (BBC) Election results, 1997 – 2001 (BBC) Election results, 1997 – 2001 (Election Demon)

External links Runnymede and Weybridge UK Parliament constituency (boundaries April 1997 – April 2010) at MapIt UK Runnymede and Weybridge UK Parliament constituency (boundaries April 2010 – May 2024) at MapIt UK Runnymede and Weybridge UK Parliament constituency (boundaries from June 2024) at MapIt UK